Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport DCA → XNA
835 nautical miles (961 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC). For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 710 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 487 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 159 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 80 to 268 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 80 nm of the route.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from DCA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 22 nm north, 5:48 am EDT (09:48 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 189 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRW UA /OV HVQ045040/TM 0948/FL320/TP A321/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRW
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (045°) of HVQ
- Time
- 09:48 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- B737 at 700 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 09:33 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- light rain
- B39M descending, 8 nm north, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 1042/FLDURD/TP B39M/SK OVC 040/WX 10 SM
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- runway 1R
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft
- Weather
- 10, miles
- B738 at 33,000 ft, 8 nm southeast, 4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC): -39 °C, wind 350° at 65 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 149 nm along the route, 8 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
EKN UA /OV EKN188027 /TM 0844 /FL330 /TP B738 /TA M39 /WV 35065KT /TB MOD-CONS /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through EKN
- Where
- 27 nm south (188°) of EKN
- Time
- 08:44 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −39 °C
- Wind
- from 350° at 65 knots
- Turbulence
- mod-cons
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
- CRJ9 climbing, 5 nm southeast, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): a broken layer above 1,300 ft. 219 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BKN013-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRW
- Where
- over CRW
- Time
- 10:15 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,300 ft, tops unknown
- E170 at 1,100 ft, 2 nm southwest, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 358 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
- E170 at 100 ft, 2 nm southwest, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 358 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- in the clouds on rotation
- CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 3 nm north, 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 358 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
- Time
- 09:37 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- scattered clouds from 100 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- E550 at 8,700 ft, 25 nm north, 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 497 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through EVV
- Where
- over EVV
- Time
- 10:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,700 ft
- Aircraft
- E550
- Sky
- clear
- Remarks
- visual conditions clear during the climb
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CVG, LOU, EVV, CGI, SGF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 57 min | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 13 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 44 min | 1:43 pm CDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +10 kt | 10 °C | 110 kt | 7 h 35 min | 1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +11 kt | 7 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 40 min | 1:39 pm CDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 4 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 48 min | 1:47 pm CDT (18:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 0 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 02 min | 2:01 pm CDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | +19 kt | -4 °C | 101 kt | 8 h 16 min | 2:15 pm CDT (19:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 28 kt | +22 kt | -7 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 31 min | 2:30 pm CDT (19:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 30 kt | +23 kt | -19 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 36 min | 2:35 pm CDT (19:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 41 kt | +28 kt | -33 °C | 92 kt | 9 h 05 min | 3:04 pm CDT (20:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 52 kt | +34 kt | -41 °C | 86 kt | 9 h 43 min | 3:42 pm CDT (20:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 48 kt | +33 kt | -50 °C | 87 kt | 9 h 36 min | 3:35 pm CDT (20:35 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| CRW | used from 149 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| CVG | used from 298 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| LOU | used from 348 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| EVV | used from 447 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| CGI | used from 547 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| SGF | used from 696 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA Washington, DC | departure | no report just now | 14 ft | ||||
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 192 ft | ||||
| EKN Elkins, WV | 129 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,987 ft | ||||
| CRW Charleston, WV | 219 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 947 ft | ||||
| HTS Huntington, WV | 258 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 828 ft | ||||
| LEX Lexington, KY | 358 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 979 ft | ||||
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 477 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 407 ft | ||||
| PAH Paducah, KY | 567 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 410 ft | ||||
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 596 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 341 ft | ||||
| UNO West Plains, MO | 716 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,228 ft | ||||
| BBG Branson, MO | 775 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,302 ft | ||||
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | destination | no report just now | 1,288 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At XNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC)
XNA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at XNA 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport.